Hustle and Go.

Not bored.

New York City, New York – We emerge from the subway to an eruption of colour.

Our stop has left us at Times Square, which is bathed in light from flashing billboards suited for a sweet tooth: Coca-Cola, Reese's peanut butter cups, M&Ms and the new movie, Wonka. 

As usual, it's a dizzying kaleidoscope.

We're immediately stitched into a thick holiday crowd and surrounded by countless street performers dressed in Minion, gorilla, robot and superhero costumes. Batman perches on a light standard, exchanging photos for tips.

Welcome to Gotham: everyone has a hustle, and everyone needs to make a buck.

A fine feller.

On another corner, the Naked Cowboy struts with his guitar, sings a bit and makes wrestling poses. I'm sure he's grateful it's sunny and an unseasonably warm 16 degrees.

The holidays are in full swing.

Iconic toy store FAO Schwarz is lined up around the block. Amazon couriers whiz past on e-bikes, pulling trailers stacked high with cardboard boxes; others rattle carts along the sidewalk.

Shoulder-to-shoulder doesn't put me into the holiday spirit, though, so we thread past the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and squeeze through the throngs to Hell's Kitchen for lunch at Alfie's. We sit on the patio, enjoying the relative quiet in short sleeves.

Global warming isn't real, you say?